What a month it’s been!
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the large number of people whose energy, commitment and enthusiasm helped to achieve the following milestones over the past few weeks.
- 14th August Basing House re-opened after its £2.3 million refurbishment
- 28th August New museum exhibition opened
- 28-30th August the Battle of Basing. Thousands of people came to Old Basing at the bank holiday weekend to enjoy this spectacular event featuring the Sealed Knot re-enactment society
- 11th-12th September Basing House was a popular destination for the National Heritage Open Days event
- 15th September a Special Viewing was held for funding partners, stakeholders and supporters of the development project (photo below)
- 17th, 21st, 23rd September first schools visits since re-opening
So what’s next? 
Work has not finished yet. By next Spring Basing House will boast a new footbridge spanning the western ditch of the Norman bailey and sailing over the excavated remains of the western gatehouse to the Tudor house (illustrated right), and a new cafe too, The Bothy Tearoom, which will be run by a local catering firm.
Looking a little further ahead, plans are being drawn up for exciting new themed play facilities for our younger visitors.
On a sadder note, fundraising has begun for a programme of conservation for the Tudor house, which suffered greatly from the exceptionally severe frosts experienced last January. Work is already under way but to complete the task and prevent further damage to this important scheduled monument more resources will have to be found.
Upcoming events
- Saturday 2nd October Geocaching day
- Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th October Mary Rose Weekend
- Saturday 30th October Halloween Ghost Walk!
And finally
Please visit our website or Facebook page regularly for more information about events. You can see more pictures and video of the Battle of Basing weekend there too, and much more. And don’t forget that new volunteers are always welcome!
www.basinghouse.org.uk
